Amid this age of ever-growing international conflict, Reuben Pullen, 13, from The Park Community School, reflects on some of the technological advancements associated with war.
I firmly believe that war is a very damaging global issue and there are many reasons why, not least human suffering, when millions of people are displaced, injured or killed in conflicts.
Refugee crises can spill over political borders, destabilising regions far from the original conflict.
Wars are terrible for the environment as they destroy the landscape and put a substantial amount of CO2 into our atmosphere. Did you know that the war in Gaza has so far generated 32 million tonnes of CO2?
Although war is a global emergency that undermines human development, there are a handful of associated positive aspects such as technological advancements.
These happen due to countries always wanting the upper hand against their competitors in weaponry terms. Some examples of technological advancements during war include development of radar during World War Two, which enabled the Allies to detect enemy aircraft and ships before they could actually see them.
Radar remains hugely useful to aviation and shipping, in addition to having saved many thousands of lives. The jet engine and even the internet owe their existence to war time or military needs.
Some wars have led to the overthrow of oppressive regimes such as that in Nazi Germany. Moreover, facing external threats can unite populations under a common cause, strengthening national identity and solidarity.
While war does offer some benefits in terms of technology, the negatives completely outweigh the positives. Inevitably war leaves psychological scars that run through generations of families and affect people long after peace treaties are signed.
And I believe that one day war will mean the end of the human race.
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